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Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton: Why He Chose Figure Skating Over Hockey

January 28, 2014 2:07 AM

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 06: (L-R) Figure skating legend Scott Hamilton and Team USA 2014 Olympic figure skating hopeful Evan Lysacek pose for a photo during the Today Show One Year Out To Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics celebration at NBC's TODAY Show on February 6, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for USOC)

USOC At The Today Show Announcing One Year Out To Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics
Scott Hamilton with Evan Lysacek
(Credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images)Sport

Former figure skater and Gold Medalist and current figure skating analyst for the 2014 Winter Olympics, Scott Hamilton, joined Mitch Evans Monday to talk about the Sochi Olympics and his life as a competitive figure skater.

Hamilton opened up the interview talking about his much-publicized battle with testicular cancer in the late 90s followed by a history of benign tumors in the 2000s. Scott joked he “has to find another hobby other than finding life threatening illnesses.” He ultimately said it was an “odd blessing in disguise…[he] look[s] at the world a lot differently.”

Scott will be traveling to Sochi, Russia to cover figure skating for the Winter Olympics and talked about the safety concerns and terrorist threats that have been reported. Hamilton said “It’s just talk…just some people making threats.” He went on to say the way the Olympic Park is set up, security is as tight as it can be.” He also talked about the favorites in both Men’s and Women’s Figure Skating and who he thinks will stand atop the podium.

Mitch Evans talked to Scott about choosing figure skating over playing hockey and his story was quite hilarious. He said “I’m foot nothing!” However he did say he played hockey for 3-years to avoid teasing by his friends. In the end Hamilton chose figure skating, but it made him quite popular with his guy friends. “I had access to more girls than ever. I kind of became a dating service [for my friends].”

In part 2 of the interview with Scott Hamilton, he opens up about being a competitive figure skater and what he endured in practices and lessons. Hamilton also discussed one of the most memorable figure skating events in history; the Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding scandal. He felt that that situation “hurt skating more than it helped it.”

One of the things most figure skaters are known for are their costumes. Hamilton talks about the most outrageous outfit he’s seen a male figure skater wear and why the movie “Blades of Glory” was hysterical because it was “just enough truth.”

Also, learn some fun tidbits about Scott Hamilton, including which Summer Olympic event he would’ve competed in and why his youngest son would have to put up quite an argument to be a full time figure skater.